Platform assembly and article of furniture incorporating the same

ABSTRACT

A platform assembly comprising a mount and an elbow that includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The vertical portion is rotatably mated to the mount. An elongate arm is rotatably mated to the horizontal portion and a platform is slidably and non-rotatably disposed on the arm. The mount includes a slot formed around a portion of its circumference and the vertical portion includes a protrusion that engages the slot to limit rotation of the vertical portion with respect to the mount. The arm includes a cylindrical portion and the horizontal portion of the elbow includes a cylindrical socket that receives the cylindrical portion of the arm. The horizontal portion includes a slot formed around a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical socket and the arm includes a protrusion that engages the slot to limit rotation of the arm with respect to the horizontal portion.

BACKGROUND

There are many instances where a horizontal surface or platform is useful. Eating, reading, writing, and using a laptop are just a few examples of activities where a platform is convenient. Furthermore, such activities are often performed in a seated position for comfort. Thus, a chair with a platform is a desirable combination. Moreover, where few other surfaces for resting items exist, such as outdoor locations, a portable platform assembly is almost a necessity. Camping is an example of such an activity where a platform is needed where few other horizontal surfaces exist. A camping chair with a platform can be used for supporting plates of food, drinks, other camping equipment, and the like.

While current table and platform attachments for chairs exist, there is still demand for a platform assembly that provides improved adjustability as well as the ability to be neatly stowed when used on a folding chair, such as a camping chair or director's style chair. There is a further need for a platform that may be economically manufactured and easily assembled. There is a still further need for a platform design that allows the platform to be deployed in multiple configurations, such as in front of user or to their side. There is also a need for a platform that allows a user to conveniently enter and exit a chair without disturbing articles supported on the platform, especially where other horizontal surfaces are not available.

SUMMARY

Described herein are various embodiments of a platform assembly as well as an article of furniture, such as a chair, that incorporates the platform assembly. Generally, the platform assembly comprises a mount attachable to a surface and having a mount axis extending in a first direction. An elbow is rotatably mated to the mount. The elbow includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a longitudinal first axis extending in the first direction and the second portion has a longitudinal second axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. An elongate arm extending in the second direction is rotatably mated to the second portion. A platform is slidably disposed on the arm, wherein the platform is rotatable about the second axis from a stowed position to a deployed position, and wherein the platform is pivotable from a use position to an exit position.

The mount may include a gudgeon with the first portion including a pintle sized and configured to mate with the gudgeon. In an embodiment, the gudgeon includes a slot formed around a portion of its circumference and wherein the pintle includes a protrusion adapted to engage the slot thereby limiting rotation of the pintle with respect to the mount.

In an embodiment, the arm includes a cylindrical portion and the second portion of the elbow includes a cylindrical socket that is sized and configured to receive the cylindrical portion of the arm. The second portion includes a slot formed around a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical socket and the arm includes a protrusion adapted to engage the slot thereby limiting rotation of the arm with respect to the second portion. The slot extends around a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical socket such that the arm may be rotated from the stowed position to the deployed position. For example, in an embodiment, the slot extends around a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical socket such that the arm may be rotated through approximately 270 degrees.

The platform is non-rotatably attached to the arm and the platform is indexed relative to the protrusion. In an embodiment, the platform includes an elongate slot extending in the second direction and the arm includes a second protrusion adapted to engage the elongate slot to inhibit rotation of the platform with respect to the arm. In an embodiment, the platform includes a non-round bore and the arm includes a non-round portion such that the non-round portion may slide in the bore and the platform is prevented from rotating with respect to the protrusion. The non round bore may be a parallelogram. Alternatively, the non-round bore may be obround or oval, for instance.

Also contemplated is an article of furniture comprising a seat portion, a back portion, and a platform assembly. The platform assembly includes a vertically extending mount attached to the article of furniture. The mount may be attached to the article of furniture on the back portion, for example. The platform assembly also includes an elbow including a horizontal portion and a vertical portion with the vertical portion rotatably mated to the mount. An arm is rotatably mated to the horizontal portion and a platform is slidably disposed on the arm, wherein the platform is deployable in a first use position adapted to traverse a lap of a user and a second use position adapted to extend along an arm of the seat portion. In an embodiment, the seat portion and the back portion are configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.

A chair including a platform assembly is also contemplated. The chair comprises a seat portion and a back portion. The seat portion and the back portion are configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The platform assembly includes a mount means attached to the back portion for supporting the platform assembly. An elbow means is rotatably mated with the mount means for rotatably supporting an elongate arm in a horizontal orientation. A platform is supported on the elongate arm. The platform assembly also includes a rotation limiter means for limiting rotation of the elongate arm with respect to the elbow means and a slider means for allowing the platform to slide with respect to the arm while preventing the platform from rotating with respect to the arm.

The foregoing and other features, utilities, and advantages of the platform assembly will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of a platform assembly and article of furniture incorporating the same and together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operation thereof. Like items in the drawings are generally referred to using the same numerical reference.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture incorporating a platform assembly according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the article of furniture shown in FIG. 1 with the platform assembly in a deployed position;

FIG. 2B is a perspective is a perspective view of the article of furniture shown in FIG. 1 similar to FIG. 2A showing the platform assembly in a use position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article of furniture shown in FIG. 1 similar to FIG. 2A showing the platform assembly in an exit position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the elbow shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the elbow shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side view in elevation of the elbow taken about line 6-6 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7A is a side view in elevation of the mount shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 7B is an optional embodiment of a mount including a pivot lock;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the mount shown in FIG. 7A taken about line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the arm shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a slider fitting used to mount the platform as shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an article of furniture incorporating a platform assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the platform assembly shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the slider assembly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a platform assembly that provides improved adjustability as well as the ability to be neatly stowed when used on a folding chair, such as a director's style chair. The design is economically manufactured and easily assembled with relatively few parts. The unique design of the disclosed platform assembly allows the platform to be deployed in multiple configurations. The platform may be rotated away from a seating area without disturbing articles supported on the platform, thus allowing a user to conveniently enter and exit a chair.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an article of furniture in the form of chair 5 that includes a platform assembly 7 according to a first exemplary embodiment. Chair 5 in this case, is in the form of a director's chair. The director's chair includes a seat portion 12 and a back portion 10. Back portion 10 includes a pair of uprights 13 which extend from seat portion 12. Back portion 10 includes a back rest 14 which extends between the uprights 13. In this case, back rest 14 is in the form of a canvas piece that stretches between the two uprights 13. Seat portion 12 includes a pair of cross tubes 18 which are pivotably attached to each other and to side tubes 15. Cross tubes 18 are further supported between side tubes 15 with connection bars 19. Similar to back portion 10, seat portion 12 includes a seat rest 11 in the form of a canvas piece that stretches between the cross tubes 18. Side tubes 15 include arms 17 and are reinforced with corresponding support tubes 16. With reference to the illustration it can be appreciated that chair 5 may be moved from a collapsed or stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. Chair 5 is only one example of an article of furniture upon which the platform assembly may be attached. Platform assembly 7 may be attached to any article of furniture whether collapsible or not and more broadly to any surface.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, platform assembly 7 includes a mount 40, which attaches to the article of furniture. In this case, mount 40 attaches to the back portion 10, and more specifically to one of uprights 13. However, mount 40 may be attached to any portion of the article of furniture. Mount 40 may be attached to the article of furniture by welding, fastening or the like. Mount 40 has a longitudinal axis L that, in this case, extends vertically. Mount 40 rotatably supports elbow 20. Elbow 20 has a longitudinal axis L′ that extends horizontally. Elbow 20 in turn supports an elongate, horizontally extending, arm 60 along which platform 80 is slidably attached. Note that elbow 20 and elongate, horizontally extending, arm 60 may be a single unitary piece.

As best shown in FIGS. 4-6, elbow 20 includes a vertical portion 24 and a horizontal portion 22. In this case, elbow 20 includes mitered tube portions 26 and 27 which are welded together at a 45° angle. Vertical portion 24 includes tube portion 27 as well as pintle 28 which extends from tube portion 27. Pintle 28 may be a solid bar which is inserted into portion 27 and secured therein by, for instance, welding, gluing, fastening or some combination thereof. With further reference to FIG. 7A, pintle 28 is sized and configured to rotatably mate with mount 40. In this case Mount 40 is configured as a gudgeon for receiving pintle 28. Returning to FIGS. 4-6, horizontal portion 22 includes tube portion 26 that includes a socket 29, which in this case is the hollow region of tube 26. Formed around the circumference of socket 29 is slot or groove 25. Slot 25 limits the rotation of the platform 80 as described more fully below.

Returning to FIGS. 7A and 8, mount 40 includes tube 42 with an interior 44 which receives pintle 28 of elbow 20. It may be appreciated that pintle 28 rotates with respect to mount 40. Mount 40 also includes a slot 46, which in conjunction with a protrusion 32 disposed on pintle 28, limits the rotation of elbow 20 with respect to mount 40. As an alternative, a groove formed around the interior perimeter of mount 40 may be used instead of a slot 46. In this case slot 46 extends around a portion of the circumference of tube 42, that portion being designated as angle B in FIG. 8. In this case, angle B is equal to 120°. This angle allows elbow 20 to rotate approximately 90° with respect to mount 40. Slot 46 includes an extra 30° in order to accommodate protrusion 32. While angle B is selected to allow 90° of rotation in this case, other ranges of rotation may be implemented in the same manner described herein. Protrusion 32 may be in the form of a set screw, a pin, or the like. Protrusion 32 is indexed with respect to horizontal portion 22 so that the platform rotates through the desired range with respect to chair 5. It should be appreciated that although the slot is shown as being formed in the mount and the protrusion is shown on the pintle, this arrangement could be reversed such that pintle 28 includes a groove and mount 40 includes the protrusion.

FIG. 7B illustrates and an alternative construction of a mount 40′ that comprises a tube 42′ with an interior 44′. In this construction, slot 46′ includes at least one notch 47′ located at the end of slot 46′. Notch 47′ is sized to receive protrusion 32 whereby elbow 20 drops down as protrusion 32 engages notch 47′. Thus, elbow 20 is locked or retained in position. Elbow 20 may be pulled away from notch 47′, in this case upwardly, in order to disengage protrusion 32 from notch 47′ such that elbow 20 may again rotate with respect to mount 40′. While notch 47′ is located at one end of slot 46′ in this example, slot 46′ may include a plurality of notches located at the ends of the slot as well as various locations throughout the range of slot 46′.

FIG. 9 illustrates an elongated horizontal arm 60 that includes a protrusion 62. Protrusion 62 may be similar to that described above with respect to pintle 28 and its corresponding protrusion 32. With reference again to FIGS. 4-6, horizontal portion 22 includes socket 29 which is sized and configured to receive an end portion of arm 60. In this case for instance, protrusion 62 engages slot 25 in order to limit the rotation of arm 60 with respect to elbow 20. Slot 25 extends around a portion of the circumference of socket 29. Angle A illustrates that portion of the circumference of socket 29 that is not slotted. In this case, slot 25 extends around approximately 300° of the circumference of socket 29. This angle allows arm 60 to rotate approximately 270° with respect to elbow 21. As with slot 46, slot 25 includes an additional 30° in order to accommodate protrusion 62. Specifically, 15° is added to each end of the 270° of desired rotational travel. It should be appreciated that depending on the size of the protrusion more or less angle may be added to vary the desired rotation. While angle A is selected to allow 270° of rotation in this case, other ranges of rotation may be implemented in the same manner described above.

Although, the platform assembly has been described with mount 40 being in the form of a gudgeon and vertical portion 24 including a pintle, the arrangement could be reversed. For example, vertical portion 24 could include a socket and mount 40 could be in the form of a pintle. Similarly, socket 29 and arm 60 could be reversed such that the horizontal portion 22 of elbow 20 includes a pintle and arm 60 includes a mating socket.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, slider 65 (also referred to as a fitting or block) is an elongated member having a square cross-section and a hole 68 formed therethrough. Hole 68 is sized to receive arm 60. Slider 65 is positioned on arm 60 and indexed relative to protrusion 62. Slider 65 is secured to arm 60 by welding, press fit, or adhesive, for example. Returning briefly to FIG. 1, it can be appreciated that platform 80 includes a square bore 84 that is sized to receive slider 65. Thus, platform 80 is non-rotatably attached to arm 60. Accordingly, platform 80 may slide along or translate along arm 60 but may not rotate with respect arm 60. In this case, bore 84 extends only partially through platform 80. The remainder of the bore may be round and sized to receive arm 60. Thus, platform 80 is captured on arm 60 by slider 65. While slider 65 is shown here as having a square cross section, other non-round cross sections or keyed cross sections may be employed. For example, slider 65 may be oval, obround, rectangular, or other parallelogram. Furthermore, slider 65 may be an integral portion of arm 60. For example, arm 60 may include a cylindrical end portion and a square or oval end portion. In yet another embodiment, arm 60 may have a continuous round cross section with a longitudinal slot formed therein for receiving a protrusion or key. Conversely, arm 60 may include a protrusion or key that engages a corresponding longitudinal slot formed in platform 80.

Having described the construction and assembly of platform assembly 7, the adjustability and configurability of platform 7 is described. As shown in FIG. 1, platform assembly 7 is configured in a stowed position, whereby the chair may be collapsed or stowed for convenient transport and storage. Platform assembly 7 is deployable from the stowed position to one of several deployed positions as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, for example. The platform is deployed by rotating platform 80 along with arm 60, which are non-rotatably attached to each other, with respect to horizontal portion 22 of elbow 20 approximately 270° such that platform 80 is supported above seat portion 12 approximately parallel with the ground and extending generally between arms 17. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, platform 80 may be slid or translated along arm 60 and slider 65 so that platform 80 is conveniently located relative to back portion 10 in order to accommodate a user seated in the chair. In this use position a user may sit in the chair and conveniently use a laptop or enjoy a meal placed on the platform 80. In the event a user wishes to exit the chair while platform 80 is in use, the user need only rotate the platform 80 along with arm 60 and elbow 20 with respect to mount 40 to an exit position as shown in FIG. 3. In this case the platform is rotated up to approximately 90° in order to exit the chair. Accordingly, items placed on platform 80 are still supported on the horizontally oriented platform while it is rotated out of the way, thereby allowing access to the chair.

The table may also be configured in a use position at the side of the chair as shown in FIG. 3. Starting from the stowed configuration shown in FIG. 1, elbow 20 is rotated 90° away from the back portion 10 and platform 80 along with arm 60 is rotated 270° to put the platform in a horizontal orientation and generally along one of arms 17. In this configuration the platform is slid toward the elbow to locate the platform near arm 17.

FIG. 11 illustrates a chair 105 that incorporates a platform assembly 107 according to a second exemplary embodiment. In this case chair 105 is the same as chair 5 shown in, for example FIG. 1. Platform assembly 107 is similar to platform 7 and includes an elbow 120 which is rotatably mated with mount 140. Arm 160 is mated to elbow 120 and supports platform 180. As shown in FIG. 12, platform 180 includes a surrounding skirt 182 as well as ribs 184 which provide rigidity to platform 180. In this case ribs 184 are in the form of a hexagonal honeycomb pattern. Platform 180 also includes a cup holder 186. Rather than having a bore formed through the platform, platform 180 incorporates a cover plate 190 which is attached to platform 180 with a series of fasteners 192 as shown in FIG. 13. Cover plate 190 includes a channel 194 that receives a slider 165 in a similar fashion as bore 84 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, platform 180 is non-rotatably disposed on arm 160. Furthermore, platform 180 is indexed with respect to protrusion 162 so that the rotation of arm 160 is limited with respect to the horizontal portion of elbow 120 such that platform 180 rotates from the stowed position to a horizontally deployed position for use.

Accordingly, the platform assembly has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein. 

1. A platform assembly, comprising: a mount attachable to a surface and having a mount axis extending in a first direction; an elbow including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a longitudinal first axis extending in the first direction and said second portion having a longitudinal second axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein said first portion is rotatably mated to said mount; an elongate arm extending in the second direction and rotatably mated to said second portion; and a platform slidably disposed on said arm, wherein said platform is rotatable about the second axis from a stowed position to a deployed position, and wherein said platform is pivotable from a use position to an exit position.
 2. The platform assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mount includes a gudgeon and said first portion includes a pintle sized and configured to mate with said gudgeon.
 3. The platform assembly according to claim 2, wherein said gudgeon includes a slot formed around a portion of its circumference and wherein said pintle includes a protrusion adapted to engage said slot thereby limiting rotation of said pintle with respect to said mount.
 4. The platform assembly according to claim 1, wherein said arm includes a cylindrical portion and said second portion includes a cylindrical socket formed therein that is sized and configured to receive said cylindrical portion.
 5. The platform assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second portion includes a slot formed around a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical socket and wherein said arm includes a protrusion adapted to engage said slot thereby limiting rotation of said arm with respect to said second portion.
 6. The platform assembly according to claim 5, wherein said slot extends around a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical socket such that said arm may be rotated from the stowed position to the deployed position.
 7. The platform assembly according to claim 6, wherein said slot extends around a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical socket such that said arm may be rotated through approximately 270 degrees.
 8. The platform assembly according to claim 5, wherein said platform is non-rotatably attached to said arm, and wherein said platform is indexed relative to said protrusion.
 9. The platform assembly according to claim 8, wherein said platform includes an elongate slot extending in the second direction and wherein said arm includes a second protrusion adapted to engage said elongate slot to inhibit rotation of said platform with respect to said arm.
 10. The platform assembly according to claim 8, wherein said platform includes a non-round bore and said arm includes a non-round portion such that said non-round portion may slide in said bore and said platform is prevented from rotating with respect to said protrusion.
 11. The platform assembly according to claim 10, wherein said non-round bore is a parallelogram.
 12. An article of furniture, comprising: a seat portion and a back portion extending therefrom; and a platform assembly including: a vertically extending mount attached to said article of furniture; an elbow including a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said vertical portion rotatably mated to said mount; an arm rotatably mated to said horizontal portion; and a platform slidably disposed on said arm, wherein the platform is deployable in a first use position adapted to traverse a lap of a user and a second use position adapted to extend along an arm of the seat portion.
 13. The article of furniture according to claim 12, wherein said seat portion and said back portion are configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.
 14. The article of furniture according to claim 12, wherein said mount is attached to said back portion.
 15. The article of furniture according to claim 12, wherein said mount includes a gudgeon and said vertical portion includes a pintle sized and configured to mate with said gudgeon.
 16. The article of furniture according to claim 15, wherein said gudgeon includes a slot formed around a portion of its circumference and wherein said pintle includes a protrusion adapted to engage said slot thereby limiting rotation of said pintle with respect to said mount.
 17. The article of furniture according to claim 15, wherein said arm includes a cylindrical portion and said horizontal portion includes a cylindrical socket formed therein that is sized and configured to receive said cylindrical portion.
 18. The article of furniture according to claim 17, wherein said horizontal portion includes a slot formed around a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical socket and wherein said arm includes a protrusion adapted to engage said slot thereby limiting rotation of said arm with respect to said horizontal portion.
 19. The article of furniture according to claim 18, wherein said platform is non-rotatably attached to said arm, and wherein said platform is indexed relative to said protrusion.
 20. A chair, comprising: a seat portion and a back portion extending therefrom, wherein said seat portion and said back portion are configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration; and a platform assembly including: a mount means attached to said back portion for supporting said platform assembly; an elbow means rotatably mated with said mount means for rotatably supporting an elongate arm in a horizontal orientation; a rotation limiter means for limiting rotation of said elongate arm with respect to said elbow means; a platform supported on said elongate arm; and a slider means for allowing said platform to slide with respect to said arm while preventing said platform from rotating with respect to said arm. 